Rotating device module for a toy

ABSTRACT

A rotating device module for a toy has an axle component, which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module. A hub part is connected to the axle component. A disc part can be screwed by means of a threaded connection to the hub part, said connection being torque proof. The hub part has an external thread of the threaded connection. The disc part has an internal thread of the threaded connection complementary to the external thread. The result is a removable rotating device module which is designed to increase play value and can be made at low cost and assembled with little effort.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2016 200 354.2, filed Jan. 14, 2016, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a rotating device module for a toy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rotating device modules for toys are known by the market as, for example, wheels, rollers or other rotors. U.S. Pat. No. 2,634,168 describes a wheel of an aeroplane model with a rotatable hub and a rim screwed to it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has an object of designing a removable rotating device module of this type to increase play value wherein this is to be derived at low cost and effort in producing and assembling the rotating device module.

This object is resolved according to the invention by a rotating device module for a toy,

-   -   with an axle component, which provides a rotation axis of the         rotating device module,     -   with a hub part, which is connected to the axle component,     -   with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a threaded         connection to the hub part, said connection being torque proof,     -   wherein the hub part has an external thread of the threaded         connection,     -   wherein the disc part has an internal thread of the threaded         connection complementary to an external thread,     -   wherein the internal thread has no more than one thread turn.

The disc part can take the form, for example, of a wheel rim, a roller, a cable pulley, or another rotating part. According to the invention, the torque proof screw connection of the hub part to the disc part is feasible without an additional fastening element, in particular not needing an additional nut. The internal thread can be formed on the disc part. The external thread can be formed on the hub part. The internal thread has no more than one thread turn. This type of internal thread has a circumferential groove of no more than 360°. With this type of design, it is possible to make the disc part as an injection moulded part easily removable from the mould. The circumferential groove of the internal thread can be less than 360° and can be 350°, for example.

A contact face, in which the hub part has at least one contact face as an abutment against the screwed disc part, can serve as an aid to positioning when placing the disc part on the hub part during assembly. This makes assembly easier for children in particular.

By providing a rotatable connection between of the hub part and the axle component, the hub part can be rotated relative to the axle component.

Also, where the axle is fixed, it is possible for the hub part to be rotated to attach or release the disc part. In the case of a hub part of a vehicle hub, this also produces a desirable differential effect.

In one embodiment of the thread connection as a left-hand thread, when screwing on, the inner hub part can be rotated relative to the stationary outer disc part, wherein the left-hand thread allows the hub part to be screwed on to the disc part by intuitively turning the hub part clockwise.

A plurality of thread segments, in which the external thread is designed as a plurality of thread segments arranged around the rotation axis with gaps between one another in a circumferential direction, makes it easier to screw on the thread components of the threaded connection.

A contact face having a plurality of contact face segments arranged around the rotation axis with gaps between one another in a circumferential direction saves material. In addition, the contact face segments can be arranged in the circumferential direction where there are gaps in the thread segments of the external thread. This enables the hub part to be designed as an injection moulded part easily removable from the mould.

The advantages of a toy with a rotating device module according to the invention correspond to those that have been explained above in reference to the rotating device module. The toy can involve a toy vehicle.

An assembly module with a rotating device module according to the invention and with a plug-in tool, which has a plug-in tool circumferential contour, which is designed to be complementary to a socket contour of the hub part, has corresponding advantages. By using the plug-in tool, it is possible to design the hub part without a rotary actuating element so that the hub part can be designed to be realistic, approximating to a real life example. Alternatively, a wing projection can be formed on the hub part, for example, to perform the rotation. In this case, a plug-in tool can be dispensed with.

A plug-in tool for an assembly module according to the invention provides the advantages that have been explained above in reference to the assembly module.

Embodiment examples of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an assembly module with a rotating device module for a toy and with a plug-in tool to assemble the rotating device module;

FIG. 2 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 1 of another design of an assembly module with a rotating device module for a toy and a plug-in tool;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective section through another embodiment of a rotating device module for a toy, wherein a hub part is connected to a non-rotating disc part designed as a wheel rim; and

FIG. 4 shows the rotating device module according to FIG. 3, wherein the hub part is released from the disc part and wherein the disc part is shown in a section of the axle and a side view of the hub part is provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An assembly module 1 illustrated in its entirety in FIG. 1 is a component part of a toy, for example, of a toy vehicle. The assembly module 1 has a rotating device module 2 and a plug-in tool 3.

The rotating device module 2 has an axle component 3 a which provides a rotating axle of the rotating device module 2. In addition, the rotating device module 2 has a hub part 5, which is connected to the axle component 3 a, and a disc part 6. The disc part 6 can involve, for example, a wheel rim, which is explained below in more detail with particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, or can involve another rotatable toy component, for example, a rotor element or a roller element, for example the rolling part of a cable pulley. The disc part 6 can be screwed in a torque proof manner to the hub part 5 by means of a threaded connection.

This threaded connection comprises an external thread 7 which is a component part of the hub part 5. The external thread 7 is designed as a plurality of thread segments 8 around the rotation axis 4 with gaps between one another in a circumferential direction. Furthermore, the threaded connection has an internal thread 9 complementary to the external thread 7, which is a component part of the disc part 6. The external thread 7 is formed on the hub part 5. The internal thread 9 is formed on the disc part 6.

The internal thread 9 has just one thread turn extending no more than 360° around the rotation axis 4. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, this circumferential groove of the internal thread 9 is less than 360°, due to which the disc part 6 can be made entirely as an injection-moulded part easily removable from the mould.

Furthermore, the hub part 5 has a contact face 10 as an abutment against the screwed disc part 6. In the case where the disc part 6 is not screwed, the contact face 10 serves to position the disc part 6 on hub part 5.

The contact face 10 comprises a plurality of contact face segments 11 around the rotation axis 4 with gaps between one another in a circumferential direction. The contact face segments 11 are arranged in the circumferential direction where there are gaps between the thread segments 8. This makes it easier to remove the hub part 5 from the mould when it is made as an injection-moulded part.

The threaded connection with the external thread 7 and the internal thread 9 complementary to it are designed as a left-hand thread.

The plug-in tool 3 has a circumferential contour 12 which is made to be complementary to a socket contour 13 of the hub part 5. In addition, the plug-in tool circumferential contour 12 has a plurality of bulges which are designed to be complementary to mock-up nuts 14 formed on hub part 5.

To fit the rotating device module, the disc part 6 is placed on the hub part 5 so that the internal thread 9 of the disc part 6 enters the thread segments 8 of the external thread 7 of the hub part 5. During this, the contact face segments 11, which are now in contact with the rear side of the disc part 6, help in positioning. Next, the plug-in tool 3 is placed on the hub part 5, wherein the plug-in tool circumferential contour 12 engages positively with the socket contour 13 of the hub part 5. The plug-in tool 3 is now rotated clockwise, wherein an actuating wing 15 of the plug-in tool 3 is grasped by the operating person between thumb and index finger. In rotating the plug-in tool 3 in this manner, the hub part 5 is rotated clockwise relative to the stationary disc part 6. The left-handed design of the threaded connection ensures that the external thread 7 of the hub part 5 engages with the internal thread 9 of the disc part 6. Once the threaded connection 7, 9 is screwed on, the disc part 6 is clamped positively between the thread segments 8 and the contact face segments 11 respectively. Thus, this has produced a reliable and non-rotational connection between the hub part 5 and the disc part 6. The plug-in tool 3 can now be withdrawn. An additional fastening nut is unnecessary.

With the aid of FIG. 2, a further embodiment of an assembly module 16 is now explained. Components and functions corresponding to those used already and explained when referring to FIG. 1 have the same reference symbols and will not be discussed again in detail.

The assembly module 16 again has a hub part 5 and a disc part 6.

In the assembly module 16, the hub part 5 is connected to an axle component 17 so that it rotates, wherein said axle can be designed as a rigid axle. This rotatable connection of the axle component 17 to the hub part 5 of the rotating device module 2 according to FIG. 2 is made as a press fit inside the axle component 17 in the hub part 5. This rotatable connection is enabled by the axial profiling 18 of the axle component 17 which is designed as a saw tooth profile. FIG. 2 shows this profiling 18 for a second hub part 5, which is designed to be identical to the hub part 5 and is inserted otherwise into the axle component 17 from the other side as part of another rotating device module. Due to the profiling 18, the particular hub part 15 can rotate about the rotation axis 4 relative to the axle component 17.

With the rotating device module 2 according to FIG. 2, the contact face 10 is designed as a component part of a cover wall of a hub pot 19 of the hub part 5.

With the aid of FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment of a rotating device module 20 will be explained. Components and functions corresponding to those used already and explained when referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 have the same reference symbols and will not be discussed again in detail.

In the case of the rotating device module 20, the disc part is designed as a wheel rim 21 of a toy vehicle wheel 22.

A plug-in tool can be inserted based on the type of plug-in tool 3 for rotating device module 20 also.

The toy, of which the toy vehicle wheel 22 is a component part, can involve a tractor, a lorry, a crane vehicle or some other vehicle, such as a trailer.

The entire assembly module 1, 16 as well as the rotating device module 2, 20 can be made exclusively from plastic components. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotating device module for a toy, with an axle component, which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module, with a hub part, which is connected to the axle component, with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a threaded connection to the hub part, said connection being torque proof, wherein the hub part has an external thread of the threaded connection, wherein the disc part has an internal thread of the threaded connection complementary to an external thread, wherein the internal thread has no more than one thread turn.
 2. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the hub part has at least one contact face as an abutment against the screwed disc part.
 3. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the hub part is connected to the axle component) to rotate.
 4. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the threaded connection is designed as a left-hand thread.
 5. A rotating device module according to claim 1, wherein the external thread is designed as a plurality of thread segments arranged around the rotation axis with gaps between one another in a circumferential direction.
 6. A rotating device module according to claim 2, wherein the contact face has a plurality of contact face segments arranged around the rotation axis with gaps between one another in a circumferential direction.
 7. A toy with a rotating device module for a toy, with an axle component, which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module, with a hub part, which is connected to the axle component, with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a threaded connection to the hub part, said connection being torque proof, wherein the hub part has an external thread of the threaded connection, wherein the disc part has an internal thread of the threaded connection complementary to an external thread, wherein the internal thread has no more than one thread turn.
 8. An assembly module with a rotating device module for a toy, with an axle component, which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module, with a hub part, which is connected to the axle component, with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a threaded connection to the hub part, said connection being torque proof, wherein the hub part has an external thread of the threaded connection, wherein the disc part has an internal thread of the threaded connection complementary to an external thread, wherein the internal thread has no more than one thread turn, and with a plug-in tool, which has a plug-in tool circumferential contour, which is designed to be complementary to a socket contour of the hub part.
 9. A plug-in tool for an assembly module with a rotating device module for a toy, with an axle component, which provides a rotation axis of the rotating device module, with a hub part, which is connected to the axle component, with a disc part, which can be screwed on by means of a threaded connection to the hub part, said connection being torque proof, wherein the hub part has an external thread of the threaded connection, wherein the disc part has an internal thread of the threaded connection complementary to an external thread, wherein the internal thread has no more than one thread turn, the plug-in tool having a plug-in tool circumferential contour, which is designed to be complementary to a socket contour of the hub part. 